Spike forming machine



April l5 1927. v 1,623,264 F. C. OLIN SPIKE FORMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1925 5 Sheet`$-Sheet 1 April 5,1927. 1,623,264 F. c. OLIN SPIKE FORMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2Q 1925 5 sheets-sheet 2 April 5, 1927. 1,623,264

F. oLlN SPIKE FORMING MACHINE y. Ln 6] 'y 57 7 l la C? (5541 @fj E wir Filed Jan. 2. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented irpr. 5,

tlltll'l@ i een f i FEED C. OLIN, GF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SPKE-FORJING MACHINE.

Application filed January 2, 1925. Serial No. 36.

This invention relates to a `machine for forming spikes such as are commonly employed for securing the rails of railways upon wooden ties, and more particularly to a machine which operates upon the shanks of such spikes so as to produce longitudinal grooves in the sides thereof whereby a greaterl holding effect is obtained of the spike on the tie into which it is driven, and also to a machine Which will produce a comparatively sharp point uponthe front or loweiI end of the spike after the grooving operation has been performed, which pointJ permits of driving the spike in easily into the tie, and also enters the latter Without unduly cutting or crushing the fibers of the same, thereby obtaining the maximum holding effect of the spike for fastening the rail to the tie.

It is the object of this invention to produce a machine whereby the operations of grooving and pointing the shank of the spikes may be effected economically, effectively and expeditiously by means which are strong and durable and not liable to -get out of order and necessitate the employment of a minimum amount of manual labor, thereby enabling such spikes to be produced at com-y paratively low cost.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a spike forming machine embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, of the means whereby thel spike blanks' are transferred successively from the spike supplyingl device to the spike forming mechanism. Figure 3 is a vertical cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3 3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a front elevation of the machine. Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the spike blanks before the same has been operated upon by my improved forming machine. Figure (i a cross section taken on line t-6, Figure 5. Figure is a side elevation of a spike showing the shape of the saine afterit has been operated upon by my improved forming machine for producing longitudinal grooves in the side thereof, and a point at the front end thereof. Figure S is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a part of the spike showing the contour of the bottom of the groove which is formed in the side of the spike. Figure 9 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 9 4), Figure r. Figure 10 is a side elevation of the preferred form of die employed in this machine for producing a longitudinal corrugated groove in the side of the spike and an inclined or tapered face on the front end thereof. Figure 11 is a front elevation of this die. F igure 12 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, showing parts of the means whereby the spike blanks are supplied and the means whereby these spike blanks are taken from the 'supplying means and presented to the forming mechanism. Figure 13 is a side elevation of part of the spike transfer mechanism shown in a position dierent than that indicated in Figure 12. Figure 141 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in sect-ion, of the spike supplying mechanism, Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cooperating parts of the spike supplying mechanism and the spike transferring` mechanism. Figure 16 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section` on an enlarged scale, showing one of the units of the forming mechanism whereby one of the longitudinal sidesy of the spike is operated upon for producing a longitudinal groove therein, and a point at the -loiver or front end thereof. Figure 1T is a horizontal section of the same taken approximately on line 17"-17, Figure 16. Figure 18 a fragmentary top plan view of the adjacent parts of the spike supplying mechanism and the spike transfer mechanism. Figure 19 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on line 19-19, Figure 18. Figure 2O is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 20-20, Figure 1S. Figure 21 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section taken on line 21-21, Figure 20. Figure 22 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 22-22, Figure 21. Figure 23 is a fragmentary rear elevation on an enlarged scale, showing the relation of the operating levers of the corresponding pulling jaw and gripping jaw which engage with one side of the head and shank of the spike for holding it in position while the same is being formed and while being carried toward and from the forming mechanisni. Figure 24; is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine showing the manner of mounting the dies so as to permit them to yield under excessive pressure. Figure 25 is a vertical section on line 25-25 Fig. 12.

In the following description, correspond ing characters `of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

The spike blank upon which my improved forming machine is adapted to operate,com prises a longitudinal shank 30 which is preferably square in cross section and provided at its upper or rea-r end with an enlarged head 3l, and a blunt or vsquare front or lower end 32, said head being of the usual oval form when viewed from the top, and offset relatively vto the shank or body of the spike so as to forni a comparatively Wide shoulder 32 on the underside et this head onfone'side `of the spike, and a comparatively narrow shoulder underneath the opposite side of thehead and adjacent to the side ofthe spike shank, as shown in Figures 5, 6, '7, '12, 13, 20 and 2l. 'lhe transversely opposite edges also overhang the 'opposite lateral sides of the shank so las to form forwardly facing shoulder Set thereon, as shown in Figure 2l.

"My invent-ion is intended to produce one or more 'longitudinal grooves in one or more of the sides of ythe shank ot' this spike and to yproduce a ,point at lthe lower or lliront end et the same. In the preferred 4form of this machine, a longitudinal groove 35 is produced in each of the four sides `ot the shank, and at its lower front end, each ollithese sides is inclined, as shown at i556, so `that these several inclined sides converge downwardly and produce a point or chiseledge 3T on the lower end of the spike. The bottom of each of .the grooves 35 may veither be plain or this surface `may fbe provided with a plurality of longitudinal co-rrugations 88 as shown :in Figures 7 and 9. A Yspike of this form, when driven into a tie, will not cut or crush the libere ot' the same to such an extent as an ordinary spike, and owing `to 'the greatly increased surface contact which is produced by the shank of the spike, due to the jgrooves of the sides of the shank, which is Astill further increased by corrugatingl Vthe bottoms of these grooves, a much stronger hold of the spike upon the tie is obtained and the rails are therefore more securely and `reliably fastened to the ties by the use of such spikes.

In its general organization, my improved forming machine, whereby the shanks oiI the spikes are provided with the grooves, either :plain or corrugated as above described, and with pointed trent ends, coinprises a supplying mechanism lwhich operates to supply blanks of the spikes which are to be grooved and pointed, a forming, torging. kneading or swaging mechanism whereby the Shanks ot the spikes `are operated upon to produce either plain or corrugated grooves therein and also 4pointed ends thereon, and a feeding or transfer mechai im whereby the spike blanks are taken, one at a time, from the supplying mechanism and presented to theI forming mechanism and also discharged after the grooving and pointing operations have been completed.

The several Working parts of this machine are mounted in a stationary main frame 39 which may be of any suitable construction, the Yforming mechanism being arranged on the liront part o't this machine, the spike blank supplying means being mounted on the rear part thereof and the 'feeding mechanism being 'arranged on the central part of the same.

Although the forming mechanism may be variously Yconstructed so Jfar as its details are concerned, and the saine may also be organized to produce one or more longitudinal grooves and pointing surfaces on one or more sides of the spike shank, ythe particu- .la-r arrangen'ient of the .mechanism 'which is shown in Figures l, 4, l16 and 17 is -designed to sinniltaneously forge the -four longitudinal sides ot a spikeshank for the purpose of producing longitudinal Agrooves and inclined pointing faces thereon. For this purpose lour forming` dies 40 are arranged `in an `annular row Aaround a forming space located at vthe front part oit ythe machine` and each die being actuated so as to partake ot both a radial motion toward `and from forming space and also partake oil. a rocking motion in a direction lengthwise, of the machine. Each-oft1 these dies is provided on the rear part of its inner side with a convex groove forming face Alil and on the front part of its inner side `with an inclined forming face 42. The convex tace is preterably of substantially semicircular form in cross section, as shown in `vFigure ll, and this lace is also provided with longitudinal cor` rugaltions 43, as shown. :in the same tig-ure so that when this face engages with a side o1" the spike shank, the latter will not yonly be indented so as to form a longitudinal groove therein, but the bottom oi' this `groove will be lorined ywith corrugations 38 correspondu ingto `the corrugations ot the rear 4groove iace o'l the respective dies. The trent or pointing ltace 42 of the die is flat so that upon engaging the lsame with the side of the spike blank, a corresponding flat Atinish will be produced on the spike blank, which flat finish is located yat the front or lower end ot the spi-ke.

These several dies are actuated a plurality of times for the purpose of engaging lthe several sides of the spike shank progressively by the convex groove forming faces ot the dies for the purpose of producing longitudinal grooves in the spike blank, and at the end of each series of `groove forming operations of the die, the latter are so actuated that the 'flat peint forming faces -ot the dies are engaged with the spike blank and l'orm inclined impressions thereon,

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which several inclined impressions or swaging operations together produce the pointed lower or front end of the spike.

lnasniuch the mechanism for operating the several dies to acconfplish the above purpose is alike, the following description of the mechanism for actuating one of these dies will apply to all of them:

44 represents a stationary arbor which is arranged transversely relatively to the length of the machine and mounted on the main frame in a manner which will presently appear. The center part of this arbor is of cylindrical form so as to provide a bearing for an eccentric 45 which turns thereon. At one end, this eccentric has secured thereto, a forwardly projecting arm 4G which is adapted to be actuated by a cam 47, which is secured to an operating shaft 48 arranged parallel with the arbor 44, said arm 46 being preferably provided with an anti-friction roller 49 for engagement with the cam in order to reduce wear. Surrounding the eccentric 45 is an eccentric strap 50 to the inner side of which, one of the dies 40 is detachably secured by means of bolts 5l or other suitable means. Projecting forwardly from the front side of this eccentric strap is a cam arm 52 which is adapted to be actuated by a cam 53, also secured to the shaft 4S, this arm 52 being provided with a roller 54 for engagement with the cam 53 in order to reduce friction. The cam arm 52 is turned outwardly for the purpose of holding the roller 54 yieldingly in engagement with the cam 53 by means of a longitudinal tension rod 55 connected at its rear end with a hook 56 on the inner part of the eccentric strap, a. washer 56 held in place on the front end of the tension rod by means of a screw nut 57 and forming a shoulder thereon, and a spring 58 surrounding the tension rod 55 and bearing' at its front end against the shoulder or washer 56, while its rear end bears against a head 59 which forms part ot the main frame of the machine. The cam arm 4G is similarly held with its roller 49 in engagement with the cam 47 by a tension rod 60 connected at its rear end with the lower partof the cam arm 4G, and a spring Gl surrounding the tension rod GO and bearing at its rear end against the frame head 59 while its front end bears against a shoulder formed on the rod 50 by means of a collar or washer G2, and held in place thereon by means of screw nuts G3. The cam 53 which will hereafter be referred to occasionally as the eccentric strap arm is pi'o- 4 vided with a plurality of short throw cani faces 64 which are arranged in an annular row around the periphery of this cam so as to cover about three-quarters of the saine, uid a long throw cam face 65 arranged between the front and rear ends of the series of short throw cam faces. The cani 4? will hereafter be referred to occasionally as the eccentric cam7 and also is provided with'a plurality oit short throw cam faces G6 which are arranged in an annular series extending about tlnee--ipiarters around the periphery i ot' this cani, and a long throw cam face 67, arranged ictwccn the front and rear ends of the series of short throw ram faces (i6. The short throw and long throw cam faces oif both ol the cams 4i and 5?), are nearly the sanic forni and arranged substantially on correspondingly circumferential parts of these cams, the slightdilllerence in construction of these cani faces, as appears in Figure i6, being intended to perform functions which will be explained later on.

ln the operation of the machine, ca ie shafts 48 makes one complete rotation for producing the 4`coovin j pointing V' i of the respective dies 40 on one he spike shzfnk. -t the beginning forging o i eration olf cach die, the t9 and .EO elated with the eccenengage with the ie cams 4i' and 5? in'iniediately the long` thr w faces G7 and s, in which position the correi is moved laterally outward tu of the spil-:c clank and thisl :h of

of the ro llcrs tric and eccentric periphery or.

in the rear of 55 of then` c f-t"' ondin die from the pr.

die is also moved into its 'ifirccaost position, as repre-:cnt id in Figure l. its the two place c' ire 16, in the ated therewith, movement of ff which is etlccted by the first short thro ye of the eccentric cani 4e wlierehy the eccenJ will be returned in the direction for m ring the convoi: rear or face of the corresponding die radi lly inward so that the saine, upon engaging with the adjacent side of the spike blank which is at that time arranged in the forming position, will produce an impression ot this die in the direction ot the length of the spike blank. Immediately after the convex groove forming face of this die is thus engaged with and impressed into the respective race of the spike blank, the roller 4S) ot the eccentric arm 46 drops into the depression of the next followingl short throw face of this cam whereby the die is ret 'acted 'troni the spike blank and at the .same time, 'the first deiriression of the series of short throw cam faces G4 n the cani ed to the roller therchy pci 'ing to rock the die forwari'll.' 1 ely to the spike blanllz. it the end ot this 'routard ii'ioveincnt of the die, the saine is again moved radially inward and caused to impress its convex rear "rooie forming` face into the :ci of the spii i blank, and at the same time` this li cars` are i'oizatcd in unison from the of heginningr` shown in F' direction of the arrow a. the first elfcct the eccentric erin fand :thereby produces a section of the longiitudiinal ygroove in the spike blank. At the :end .lof this rearward rocking action of the die., the same is again moved radially outward or away from the spike blank by engagement of the roller 49 with the low portion ofthe next following short throw cam face on the cam 47 and after the pressure of ithe die against `the spike rblank is thus re 'lieved, Athe same is also rocked forwardly by engagement of the roller 54 on the eccentric strap arm with `the low part ofthe next following short throw cam face. This operation of the die upon the shank of the spike 'blank is repeated upon engaging each pair of corresponding short `throw cam 4faces with the rollers on the eccentric and .eccentric strap arms. These repeated operations of the die on the spike blank produce a longitudinal groove 35 therein, the 4bottom of this .groote conforming to the shape of the convex face of this die, which bottom in its finished state, resembles a succession of depressions 68 which arc of concave form in the direction of the length of .the spike blank, and have their crests (i9 joining each other so that this surface resembles a succession of waves, as shown in Figure 8. In the form of thc cams 47 and 53, six short throw cam faces are employed whereby a corresponding number of short throw forging operations are produced on the side of the spike blank for producing -a groove in one side thereof from a predetermined place below the head thereof to a fplace short of the lower end thereof. lVhen the die reaches the last part or lower end of the spike blank, both the long throw fac-es (i5 and 6.7 of the two cams operate upon the rollers 54 and 49 of the eccentric strap and the eccentric so that the die is not only radially inward a greater extent by means ofthe eccentric, but the die is also rocked rearwardly a greater extent, whereby the flat inclined pointing face 42 of the die is moved inwardly and longitudinally rearward a greater extent so that upon engaging this ypointing 'face with Vthe extreme lower or 4rear end of the spike blank, Aan inclined face 3G will 'be formed thereon, and constitute one of the several inclined faces which together produce the point or tapering lower end on the spike, thereby con'ipleting the same. During the operat-ion of thus engag ing the several dies with a rearward rolling action, the spike blank is moved rearwardly with the dies but remains at rest while the dies are retracted from the spike blank and moved forwardly preparatory to effecting the next forging or forming operation thereon. For this purpose, a spike blank feeding mechanism is provided which will be presl ently described and which operates to progressively feed the spike blank rearwardly .intermittently in the same measure .as the operation fof the forming dies proceeds, so ltha't when .the eccentric ,and the eccentric strap operati-ng :cams have :completed each revolution, the operation of .grooving the face side of a spike blank and forming the :i'nclines :thereon which itogether produce the point of lthe spike will also fbe completed.

The several .arbors 44 are arranged Sat the front yend of :the machineso 4that together `they form a square, two of these arbors'being arrange vertically :and the :remaining two being arranged horizontally. Each of fthese yarbors is lsupported at its opposite ends -on brackets forming part of the front .head 59 of the fmain frame, each of which brackets :preferably provided with an :outwardly turned face 7l which engages with an inwardly turned `face 'Z2 on the adjacent end of one of the arbor-s. For the lpurposes of enabling each ofthe dies to yield in case the same encounters unusual resistance upon 'engaging the spike blank, lmeans are provided for lpermitting each of ythe dies to yield uinder these conditions. This is preferably :accomplished by yieldingly holding the opposite ends of .each arbor 44 in engagement with its respective brackets 70, -and this is veffected 1in rthe present instance by @means of tension bolts 7b secured to fthe :brackets 7 t) and passing through the opposite eends of the arbor .44, and .springs 74 surrounding .each ltension bolt and bearing at its inner :end ,against the outer side of one end of the arbor 44, while its opposite yend Ibears against the head .of the bolt as best shown in Figure 24. By thus enablingthe dies to yield, breakage of parts of ithe machine or clogging :of the same is avoided when a .spike :blank `of Aexcessive thickness or one =of unusual hardness is presented to ithe forming mechanism.

The cam shafts 48 ofthe several 'pairs of cams :are .also arranged at the front -end of the machine so 'thatthey together form a rectangular frame, `two of `these shafts `arranged vertically and the othertwo being arranged horizontally. Each of these cam shafts is journaled in bearings "75 on .the head A59 of the main frame vand these :shafts are caused to turn in unison Vby means of a `pair of co-opera-ting bevel gear wheels 76 mounted on the adjacent ends of the several cam shafts, Ias best shown in Figure 4.

The numeral 77 `represents the main driv ing shaft of the machine which, in the .present instance, is journaled horizontally vand transversely in bearings 78 0n the lower front part ofthe main frame. Motion is transmitted vfrom this main driving shaft to the cam shafts by `means which are preferably so constructed .that :the cams and assoelated parts will only be rotated while .a

spike is being carried away from the dies and another spike blank is being ed into the forging position between the dies. The position of the parts during the period of rest is indicated in Figure 1G, which also represents the beginning' and ending` of the rotation of the cams for effecting a series of forging operations of the dies on the spike blank. To effect such intermittent rotation of the die operating cams.r motion is transmitted from the main shaft 77 to the several cam shafts i8 by means of a large intermittent gear wheel 7 9 mounted on the main driving shaft 77 and meshing` with an intermittent gear pinion 80 on the lower horizontal cam shaft 48, as shown in Figures l and 4t.

It is essential that the spike blank be so positioned with reference to the forming or 'forging mechanism that when the flat inclined or pointing surfaces 42 of the several dies engage with the lower or foremost end of the spike blank, that the front extremity of this blank will terminate in line with the front ends of the flat faces 42 of the several dies. In order to thus insure moving the spike blank rearwardly during the last step of the forming operation thereon while the pointing faces 42 of the dies are engaging therewith, a blank placing device is provided which operates during the last part of the forging operation of the dies, to push the spike blank rearwardly, if this'should be necessary, so that no part of the same will project forwardly beyond the dies as the latter perform the last or pointing operation on the spike blank. Although this may be accomplished in various ways, the means shown in the drawings for this purpose are preferred, and as there shown, the same are constructed as follows:

The numeral 8l represents a positioning rod which guided in a way 82 on the front part of the frame head 59 so as to be capable of longitudinal horizontal movement relatively to the place where the spike blank is operated upon by the dies, and which is adapted to engage its rear end with the front end of any spike blank which Imay be located too far forward. A longitudinal reciprocating movement of this positioning rod is `effected by means of an upright rocking lever 83 which yis pivoted on the adjacent part of the main frame so as to swing in a vertical plane lengthwise of the machine and provided in its lower arm with a slot S4 which receives a pin 85 on the front end of the positioning` rod 8l, a rocking shifting arm S6 projecting upwardly from the eccentric strap and eccentric arm 52, and a shifting link 8T which produces a slack connection between the shifting arm 86 and the rock lever 83 and which is pivoted by means of a pin 88 to the upper arm of the rock lever S3 and provided at its rear end with a slot 89, which receives a pin 90 on the upper end of the rocking shifting arm 8G. During the rocking motion of the eccentric strap which is imparted thereto by the series of short throw cam face.l Gil, the pin 90 of the shifting arm 8G moves idly back and forth in the slot 89 without disturbing the position of the positioning rod 8l. During the last rearward rocking motion, however, of the die 40 for producing a pointing action on the front end of the spike blank during which time this die is rocked rearwardly to a greater extent than. when the same is operated for producing a groove in the spike blank, such increased throw of the eccentric strap at this time also produces an increased forward throw of the shifting arm 86 which operates to move the positioning rod 81 rearwardly so that the rear end of the same is in line with the front ends of the dies t() at the time the fiat pointing faces 42 of these dies engage. with the front end of the spike blank. lf, therefor-e, a spike blank, while in its forging posit-ion, should be so located with reference to the dies that the front end of this spil-:e blank would project forwardly beyond the dies while the latter effect their last operation, such abnormal projection of the spike blank forwardly beyond the dies is prevented by the action of the positioning rod which pushes the spike blank rearwardly at this time so that its front end is flush with the front ends of the dies Ll() as the latter effect the last or pointing operation on the spikes. By this means, the formation of fins or remnants on the pointed ends of the finished spikes is avoided and insures finishing the spikes with perfect sharp points at the lower or front end of the Shanks, which permits of effectively using the same without requiring any other operation for putting the same in shape for innnediate use.

uring the first forward stroke or rock` ing movement of the respective die 40 which is associated with the shifting arm 86, after this die has effected a pointing operation on the spike blank, the pin 90 of the .shiftA ing arm engages with the rear end of the slot 89 in the shifting link 87', thereby causing the positioning rod 8l to be again drawn forwardly into its foremost position out of the path of the spike blank which is moved into the forging place, preparatory to being again moved rearwardly and positioning any spike blank which may be too long and thus causing the same to be pointed by the die without an objectionable fin or remnant thereon.

rllhe mechanism for feeding the spike blanks from the supplying means to the forging means and moving the blanks rearwardly intermittently relatively to the forming means during the operation of forging the grooves and points thereon is constructed as follows:`

'Ihe supplying means are so constructedl that. they present the spike blanks successively to a position where the same are taken by the feeding mechanism from the sirpplying'means and presented to the form ing mechanism. The foremost spike inA the order inwhich they are supplied. by the supplying means is represented in a vertical position at the right hand side of Figure- 12 and while the same is in this position, itis grasped, by the feeding mechanism and presented to the forming mechanism This feeding mechanism comprises a gripping' device which is so constructed that it grasps opposite sides of the head of the spike which is at the upper end thereof and also they shank of they saine at a point below the head: thereof, meansl for rocking this rovided on its rear art with. a Oa 9.3v

within which part. of the spike supplying mechanism is arranged. Pivotally mounted.

" on the frontV end of the slide 91 so as to bc capable of; swinging vertically thereon, is a yokef94, this pivotal connection being preferablyelfected by means of a shaft 95 which is journaled in suitable bearing 961 on. the

fronti end: of the slide 91 and upon the cen` tral: pai-t of whichA the upper end of the yokel 94; turns..

their this slidef is inv its f rearmost position,

the yoke 94 projects downwardly from this.

slide, asf shown in; Figure 112,. but whenthis slide is in itsforward position and presenting'a spike blank to the forming means, the yoke is in a horizontall forward:` projecting. positionl relatively to t e slide, as shown in Figure 20.` Means are provided which tend constantlytomove the yoke 94 from its horizontal; position, shown in Figure 20, to its vertical, pendent position shown in Figure 12, which means preferably consist ot a.

sleeve 97 surrounding one endl of the shaft 95 haring; its inner end secured to the yoke 94 and joiuinazled in` a1 bearing 98 at the front end` ot the slide 91, and a spring 99 surrounding the sleeve 97 and secured at one end to the slide 91, while its opposite end1 isV secured to a collar 100 at the outer endl of ther sleeve 97 as best shown-y in Figures` 18 and 19. Projecting rearwardly from tliein ner end. of the yoke 94 is a controlling' arm 101i which is provided with a curved cam;

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surface 102.' at its inner end' adjacent to the shaft 95 and a straight surface 103 at its outer extremity. This controlling arm eri.-A

gages with the under side of abutment 104 which is preferably constructed in the formi of a roller mounted on` a stationary axis 105,` which preferably consists of a rod mounted. on the adjacent part of the main frame of the machine..

As the slide; 91 effects the last part of its rearward motion, the curved receding part 102 of thel con-trolling arm presses underneath theabutment. 104, thereby permitting the spring 99 toi turn the yoke 94 from the horizontalK torwairdliy projecting position. on the slidey 91as shown in Figures18;and-l20, to the pendent position shown in Figure lf2; lVhen, however, the slide 91 is moved into its forward positionf relatively to the form:-

ing mechanism, the abutment 104 engagesyoke is againi swung downwardly into av pendent position, during which last movement the finished spike is: first dischargeil' from the gripping mechanism mounted on the yokeY and: this gripper mechanism is then engaged with another spike blank preparatory to beginning another cycle of operations.`

Means are provided for limiting the rearward. and' downward swinging movement of the yoke 94: under theaction of the spring 99, which means serve to arrest the motion of this yokeV when the same reaches a verti cal: position, andy valthough these limitingmeans mali. be` variously constructed, those shownv4 in. the drawings are preferred, and consist of a stoppin 106fsecured to the rear side of the sleeve 97 and working in a slot 107, in the bearing 98, the upper end 108 ofthis slotserving as a stop which isengaged by thev stopv pin 106` when the yoke swingsA from its upper horizontal" position downwardly and rearwardly into its vertical lower position, as best shown in- Figures 18,4 19, and. 20,

The gripping means which are adaptedto grasp the spikeblank and.y support the saine ony the yoke as the latter moves from its verticali lower position to its horizontal upper position, and while the spike isbeingy anisin, preferably comprises two pairs of jaws, a front pair 109, 109, which are adapted to engage transversely opposite sides of the shank of the spike immediately in front of its head and which will be hereafter roferred to as the shank jans, and a rear pair of jaws, 110, 110, which are adapted to engage with transversely opposite sides of the edge of the spike head and which .will be hereafterreferred to as the head jaws. The face of each shank jaw is provided with a flat bot-toni 111 and two inclined sides 112, so that when the two head jaws are inoved toward each other and into engagement with opposite sides of the spike shank, the latter will be centered on the concave faces or recesses `of these jaws and reliably held in definite. and pre-determined position thereby. rlhe face of each head jaw is provided with a straight face 113 which is adapted to engage with the peripheral edge of the spike head on one side thereof, and an inwardly projecting` flange 114 arranged at the front end of each of the head jaws and adapted to engage underneath the. adjacent part of the head of the spike, the inner or rear edge of each head jaw being unflanged, thereby compelling the spike blank, when engaged by the head jaws, to inove rearwardly therewith, by permitting` the spike blank, under certain conditions, to be inoved rearwardly independently of these head jaws, as will be explained later on.

The two head jaws of the gripper inechanism arranged at the outer or lower end of the rocking yoke or carrier {lf-lare secured to the lower or rear ends of a pair o'l hollow parallel outer shafts 115 which are journaled lengthwise in parallel bearings 116 forined on the yoke 94e. Secured to the ripper or rear ends of the hollow shafts 115 are two head operating rock levers, the inner arins 117 of which project downwardly and rearwardly over the rear part of the shaft 95, while the upper arins 118 of these rock levers project upwardly from the hollow shafts 115. A rotary cani 119l is niouuted upon the shaft and provided with cani surfaces ou itsI oppositie sides and between the upper aruis 118 of these. rock levers, an expansion spring 120 is arrain-ed lllhen the cani 119, during its rotation with the shaft 9F, presents the hiegh parts of its Cain surfaces to the lower arlns 11T of the head jaw levers, the latter will he turned in the direction for operatingl the lower arms 117, and also operatingl the head gripping jaws 110 so that they are inoved away from opposite sides of the position in which they would grasp the head of the spike blank. During' movement, the springl 120 between the upper arins of the head jaw levers, is compressed, and when the cani 119 presents its low 'faces to the lower arnis vof the head jaw levers 117, the latter are n'ioved toward each other by the spring` 12() and the head gripping jaws 110 are siinultaneously moved toward each other and engaged with opposite sides of the head of the spike blank while the gripping' iuechanisin is in the position for receiving, a spike blank from the spike blank supplying` mechanism. Journaled within the hollow outer shafts 115 are two inner shafts 121, each of which has secured to its lower or front end one of the shank gripping jaws 109, and each of which has secured to its` upper or rear end, a shank jaw lever, the lower arin 122 of which is provided with an inwardly facing shoulder 1:23, which is adapted to engage with the adjacent part of the outer side of the companion lower arni of the respective hollow shaft 115. T he shoulder 123 fthe lower arins 122 is yieldingly held in engagement with the lower arms 117 by ineans of a spring- 1211; interposed hetween the upper arnis 125 of the shank jaw levers.

During the last part of the rearward inoti'on of the slide 91, the gripper yoke 9-1 swings forwardly and downwardly into a vertical position and brings its two pairs of jaws 109 and 110 on opposite sides of the shank and head of the foremost spike blank 'of the spike blank supplying n'icehaiiisni, but at this time these jaws are in a separater or open position so that they will clear the respective spike blank. Upon. however, reaching this rearnrost position, the operation of the cani 119 will perinit the springs 120 and 124ito inove the gripper jaws 1U!) and 110 into a closed position against opposite sides of the shank and head of the spike blank and obtain a firin grip thereon so that during' the subsequent forward and upward swinging` nioveinent of the carrying' yoke 9e. the spike blank will be carried from the blank supplying means in which it assuni"s a pendent position upwardly and forward ly into a horizontal position ir. which it pro-- jects with its front end forwardly relatively to the center of the spike forlniiu;l mecha nisin. After the spike blank has been thus raised into a horizontal forwardly projecting position by the upward swinging; uiovenient of the yoke 9-1 on the slide 91, the latter is inoved forwardly preferably by one continuous inoveinent until those portions of the several sides of the spike shank iinniediately below or in front of the shank 109 are in line transversely with the conver: rear faces of the forming dies -Ll-O. ll'lhen the blank reaches this position, the formino; niechanisn'i begins to operate upon the shank of the spike blank in the niannor prr-iviouslv described during which time the spike blank is fed backward intermittently, and the convex or groove forming portions of these dies operate successively and step by step upon the' spike blank for producing the longitudinal. grooves therein', and when the last or lewermost or front end portion of the spike blank has reachedl the flat or point forming faces ofthe dies,l the positioning rod 81 moves rearwardly and operates to` push the spike blank rearwardly, if the same is of excessive length, and. insures bringing the lower or front end of the spike blank in line with. the front end of the dies so that thel point forming portions of these dies will be able to` produce a finished or clean cut point on the spike blank without leaving any fin orI remnant of metal thereon, previously explained in greater detail. lf a spike blank should. be pushed' rearwardly by the positioning; rod 81. during the last part of the forming. operation on the spike blank, the shank of the spike blank will simply slip through the shank jaws 109 of the griper mechanism and the head of the spi-ke lank will move a corresponding extent rearwardly relatively to the opposing faces of the head jaws 110 and away from the flanges' 114i thereof, without,r however, disturbing the hold otherwise of the gripping mechanism on the spike blank. During the rearward movement of the gripping mechaiiisiii\vliile the spikey blank is being enoaged by the forming dies, this blank is compelled to move with the gripper n'iechanism owing to the engagei'nen-t of the front flanges lll of the head jaws 110 with the under side of this head' which. at this time, faces foi'- wardly or toward the forn'iingl mechanism. The relative position of the lower arms of the jaw and head gripper levers is such that when the cam 119 is turned in the position in which it permits these arms to move to ward' each other,` the movement lof the lower arms-122 of the jaw levers will be arrested first by the engagement or closing of thegripper jaws 109 with the opposite sides of the shank of the spike blank, and thereafter, the lower arms 117 of the levers associated with the head gripping jaws are permitted to move toward each other independently of the lower shank aw arms 122, until. the two head jaws 110 also engage with opposite sides ofthe head of the spike blank. lVhen, however, the high parts of the cam. faces of the rotary cam 119 engage with the lower arms 1.17 lof t-lie head gripping levers, thel latter effect the initial part of their operating movement independently of the lower arm 122" of the shank gripping levers, but duringV the last part of the operating movement of the arms 117, the same engage with the shoulder 1.23 of the arms 122 so as to compel the shank gripping levers to move therewith.- As a result of this.y the head gripping jaws of the gripper mechanism are opened or disengaged first from the head of the spike blank and the jaws of the shank gripping lever are opened or' disengaged from. the: shank. of the spike*l blank last.. By' this means, the spike hol'dl is always gripped firstA at its shank before its head is engaged. and this hold on the shank is retained until after the head is re leased, thereby insuring. holding. the spike blank reliably in` its centered position. at al1 times from the time that it is gripped at the outlet of the spike blank supplying mecha.- nisin through the time that the spike blank-v is moved toward and from; the forming mechanism and up to the time that the lin ished spi-ke is discharged from the gripper.'` mechanism. Such discharge of the finished spike occurs immediately after the finished spike has been moved rearwardly from the forniing mechanism andthe gripper mecha'.-

nism is effecting the first portion of 'its downward and rearward motioni, at which time the cam 119 opens the two pairs ofaws and releases the grip on the finished spike and permits the Same to fall into a deli-very chiite 125 which receives. the finished' spike and delivers the same laterally from the machine upon the floor of the building or into a receptacle provided for that purpose..

The longitudinal forward and backwardy movement of the slide 91 may be effected by various means, preferably those shown in the drawings, which are constructed as:

follows The numeral 12.6 represents. an uprightI means of a pintle 131 with the front part` of the slide 91, and at a distance in frontl of' tlie sleeve 129 thereon, the same is provided with a collar 132. Surrounding the shifting rod 130 between the lever sleeve 1.29

and the collar 132, is a spacing sleeve 138,. whereby, upon moving the front end of the lever' 126 forwardly, the movement of the same will be transmitted to bothy shifting rods 130 to the slide 91 and the parts mountedv thereon. On the rear end 0f each of the' shifting rods 130 is mounted a step:` collar or shoulder 134 and upon these rods are mounted springs 135, each of which enits front end with the rear side of. the lever sleeve 129, while its rear end engages with the front side of the respective` collar 134. These springs 135 are sufiiciently stiff so that during ordinary conditions, the lever or coupling sleeves 129 will bev maintained in a definite position. on the' shifting; rods 130. If, however7 during ther leis los!

rearward movement of the slide 91, the spike blank, which is being operated upon, should become stuck in the forming or forging apparatus or if any-.ning else should happen to the parts associated with the slide.y to prevent free rearward movement thereof, then the shifting lever 126, during its rearward movement, will simply compress the springs 135 until the clogged condition in the machine is removed, thereby avoiding breaking any of the parts.

rIhe rearward motion of the shifting lever 126, while the forging` or forming operations on this spike blank are being performed, is accomplished by positively operating means, but the forward movement of this lever is effected by spring means. These means, in the preferred form shown in the drawings, are, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, constructed as follows:

rllhe numeral 136 is a cam secured to the driving` shaft 77 and provided with a plurality of short throw cam faces 137, which are progressively higher or farther away from the center of rotation of this cam, and a long` throw cam face 138 which extends from the lowest to the highest of the series of short throw cam faces 13T. The effect of this cam 136 is transmitted to the shifting rock lever 126 by means of a pitman or connecting member which, in the preferred construction. comprises a front head 139, having a roller 140 arranged to be engaged by the long and short throw cam faces on the periphery of the cam 136, a rear coupling head 141 connected with the lower part of the shifting lever 126 and an intermediate adjusting rod 142, having right and left hand screw connections 143, 144 with the front and rear coupling` heads 139, 141. As the cam 136 turns and presents its successively higher short throw cam faces 137 to the lower 140, the pitman will be pushed rearwardly together with the shifting lever 126, and cause the gripper mechanism to be moved rearwardly, step by step, from the forming mechanism to the spike blank supplying mechanism, and when the long throw 138 of the cam 136 engages with the lower 140, the pitman is moved forwardly by the spring return device, together with the shifting lever 126, the slide 91 and the gripper mechanism for the purpose of carrying a spike blank by means of the gripper mechanism from the spike blank supplying device to the forming mechanism. This spring return device in the present instance consists of a return spring 145 surrounding the central part of the adjusting` rod 142 and bearing at its front end against the collar 146 on the rod 142. and at its rear end against a shoulder 147 on the main frame. By turning the adjusting rod 142 in one direction or the other, the shifting lever 126, together' with the slide 91 and the gripper mechanism carried thereby may be djusted lengthwise of the machine for the purpose of causing the gripper mechanism to present the spike blank properly to the forming mechanism. Such turning of the adjusting rodv 142 may be readily effected while the machine is in operation by turning this rod through the medium of a hand wheel 148 secured to the rear end of this rod, as shown in Figure 1.

Due to the right and left hand screw connections between, the adjusting rod 142 and the front and rear coupling heads 139 and 141. a. turning of this screw rod in one direction will cause the pitman as a whole to be shortened and the gripper mechanism to be moved forwardly relatively to the forming mechanism while a turning movement of the rod 142 in the opposite direction will cause the gripper mechanism to be moved rearwardly relatively to the forming mechanism. During the longitudinal movement of the pitman, the front end of the same is guided on the hub 149 of the cam 136 by consti-noting the front end of the coupling head 139 in the form of a fork 150 which straddles the hub 149. as shown in Figures 1 and 4. For the purpose of enabling the stroke of the gripper mechanism lengthwise of the machine to be adjusted so as to adapt the same to variations in the length of the spike blank, means are provided which. in their preferred form, consist of a vertically movable clamping screw 151 mounted on the rear coupling head 141 and passing through an upright Islot 152 in the lower part of the shifting lever 126. By loosening the adjusting screw 151 and raising the same in the slot- 152, the length of the arc through which the lever 1.26 swings, will be reduced and thereby produce a corresponding reduction in the length of the longitudinal stroke of the slide 91 and the gripper mechanism mounted thereon. while upon lowering this adjusting screw in said slot, the are through which this lever moves will be increased and thereby produce a correspondingly longer stroke of the gripper mechanism lengthwise of the machine. After such adjustment is effected, the adjusting screw 151 is tiglitened so as to hold these parts in their adjusted position.

Means are provided for transmitting motion to the shaft 95 without interfering with its free longitudinal movement in the machine as the gripper n'iechanism moves back and forth between the spike blank supplying means and the forming means. The preferred form of driving mechanism for this gripper shaft 95. as shown in the drawings, is constructed as follows:

The numeral represents a short counter shaft journaled transversely and horizontally in a bearing on one of the longitudinal walls of the frame and provided on Cil ting motion from 4the shaft 153 tothe shaft 95, which shaft comprises upper and Ylower 'end sections 158 and 159 and an intermediate section 160, which is of hollow form and receives the end vsections 158 and 159, and is connected therewith so as to be capable of operat-ing lengthwise thereon fbut compelled to turn therewith each of `these connections preferably consisting of a pin 161 secured to one of the end shaft sections fand passing lthrough a slot 162 on the intermediate shaft section 160, as shown in Figures y1 and 19. The upper end section 158 of the extensible vshaft turns in a bearing 163 form'ed between a-swiveling` bracket 164 which 'turns von the `adjacent end of the shaft 95, and a lower section 159 of the extensible intermediate shaft is similarly connected by means of a similar swiveling bracket '165 which has a bearing for the lower shaftsection 159 and also turns on the counter shaft 15S-3. The lower shaft section 1-59 is .provided with a bevel gear wheel 166 which meshes with the bevel gear wheel 155 onl he counter shaft, and the upper shaft Section 1`561is connected with the adjacent end of the gripper shaft 95 by a pair of intermeshing `bevel gear wheels 167 .By `means of this construction, the gripper is free `tomove lengthwise in the machine andstill preserve the driving connection of the shaft 95 with'the counter shaft 155 during which time the extensible shaft will lengthen while the gripper .is moved forwardly in the machine and shorten whilethc gripper is moved rearwardly therein.

Means for Supplying the lspike blanks to the feeding mechanism are constructed as f ollows:

Arranged lengthwise in the `upper rear part of the main frame of the machine is a runway upon which the spike blanks are deposited by any suitable mean's,and whereby the samev are directed forwardly to the outletof the runway where they are taken by the gripping ydevice of the Afeeding mechanism, preparatory to being presented to the forming mechanism. In itspreferred form, this runway consists of two longitudinal rails 168 which are arranged 'in an inclined position within the slot 19 in the feeding slide 91 and'between the shiftingirods 130 of the same so vthat these rails slope downwardly 'from their elevated rear ends to their depressed front or discharge ends. These rails the front end thereof.

to the forming mechanism.

are separated Vfrom each other so as to vform a 'longitudinal slot 169 between the same, and they are held rigidly in position on lthe main frame by providing them with laterally projecting' lugs 170, which are secured to 'the main frame by means of screws 171, as

best shown in Figures 3 and 12. The space between the rails of the runway is slightly greater than the width of the shanks of the spikes so that the latter are free to slide forwardly in this slot, but lthe same are held against turning' therein and thereby insure propel' presentation of the spike blanks to the feeding mechanism at the outlet of the runway. The heads of the spikes, however. are adapted to overhang with their lateral edges over the top surfaces or guideways 17 2 formed by the upper sides of the .guide rails and thereby serve to suspend the spikes on the runway as they slide from the rear 'to Then the machine is in operation, a plurality of spike blanks are arranged in a longitudinal. row on this runway, one behind the other, with their shanks projectingT 'downwardly in the slot between the guide rails and their heads resting on top of these rails, and the rear or long part of the head of each spike blank projecting rearwardly and engaging the front side of the next following spike blank innnediately below the head of the latter, as illustrated in Figure 12. The foremost spike blankof the row on the runway is arrested and prevented from escaping from the runway preparatory to being engaged by the gripping device of the feeding mechanism, while the rear part of the under side of the head of this foremost spike blank rests upon the front or discharge ends of the rails `168, which front ends are preferably turned or curved upwardly somewhat in the form of short horns or fingers 17 3, as shown in Figure 12. As each spike, while in its foremost position in the row on the runway, carried away by the `gripper mechanism, the remaining spike blanks or supply row on the runway, slide by gravity forwardly one space so that they are all advanced in one step and the nextl spike blank, which is now foremost. will take its place on the front ends of the rails ready to be grasped by the stripping device of the feeding mechanism. After each foremost spike blank has slid fornf'ardly on the front ends or horns 17 3 of the guide rails so that only the rear parts of its head rest on these horns. the further forward movement of this spike blank is arrested by a detentdevice or gate mechanism which extends across the path of `tl e spike blanks at the front or outlet end of the runway and retains the foremost spike blank in the delivery position on the runway while the previously removed spike blank is being' carried away by the gripper and presented In the -prelOl:

llt.I

lill) latch 1811- and adapted to engage with a stop surface 192 on the adjacent part of the yoke 94, as shown in Figures 12, 13 and 15. The distance from the axis of the shaft 176 `to the outer end of the trip lug 186 is less blank, the yoke 941- swings forwardly and up 'ardly in order to present the spike blank in a horizontal position lengthwise ot the machine to the forming mechanism.

During the first part of this upward and forward swing movement of the yoke 94 vwith the ,gripper mechanism, the hook 185 of the trip latch, by engaging with the trip lug 186, will cause the detent finger 175 to also swing upwardly and forwardly, but as the length of the trip lug 186 is shorter than the length of the detent arm and finger, the extent of the forward and upward swinging movement of the detent finger will be more rapid, thereby causing this detent finger 175 to promptly clear the path in advance of the forward and upward movement of the gripping device and enable the latter to carry the foremost spike blank away from the detent or escapement mechanism without interference from the latter. After the detent finger 175 has been raised sufficiently to clear the path of the head of the foremost spike blank, this detent finger continues to move in this direction until the hook of the trip latch slips off from the trip lug of the detent mechanism. This disengagement of the trip hook from the trip lug occurs immediately after the head ofthe foremost spike blank has passed forwardly beyond the detent finger 175, inasmuch as the gripper jaws and hook swing through an arc which has its axis concentric with the gripper shaft 95, `and therefore has a radius of considerable length while the cooperating faces of the trip hook 185 and the trip lug 186 at this time swing through a `small are which has its axis on the detent Ashaft 176 and therefore has a comparative- .lv short radius so that the hook 185 is simply stripped off from the trip lug 186 after these parts have moved together for a sufficient time to disengage the detent finger 17 5 from the head of the foremost spike blank, and has raised this finger a suflicient extent to avoid interference therewith of the head of the spike blank which is being fed at this time to the forming mechanism.

Inasmuch as each spike, upon reaching the outlet or delivery position on the runway, is suspended only on the 'rear zpart of the under side of its head, the same, due yto the overhanging weight, would not naturally assume a vertical `or upright position but instead would incline rearwardly with the lower end of its shank. In order, therefore, to cause `the spike blank to assume .a vertical positioii when the same reaches the delivery place of the supply mechanism, and thereby insure grasping the saine prop,- erly by the aws of the gripper mechanism, a. righting mechanism is provided which, in its preferred forni. is constructcdzas zfollows:

The numeral 193 represents an `upright righting arm or lever' which is arranged along one side of the path of the lspike blanks as they move forwardly in the runway and which is provided at its lower end with a laterally projecting finger 194 which is adapted to engage with the lower part of the rear side of the shank of each spike blank while the latter is in the delivery position and move the saine forwardly so that the spike blank hangs vertically on thedelivery end of the runway, as shown in Figure 12. This righting arm or lever is pivotally supported at its front end so as to be capable of swinging back and forth, this being preferably accomplished by providing the upper end of this arm with a hub 195 4which turns on the exterior of the bearing 177 of the escapement shaft 1176, as shown in Figure 14;. This righting arm is swung backwardly so that its finger 1941 is disengaged from the rear side of the shank of the vspike blank in the delivery position and .is arranged below the path of the lower end of the shank of the next following spike blank, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 12, so as to permit the next following spike blank to slide forwardly freely on the runway and take the place of the foremost spike blank at the delivery position. This rearward swinging kmovement of the righting arm is effected by means of a spring 196 interposed between a shifting arm 197 projecting upwardly from the righting arm and `a shoulder 198 arranged on the adjacent part of the carrier 179, es shown in Figures 12, 14 and 15, the movement of the righting arm in this direction under the action of the spring 196 being limited by engagement of the arm 197 with a stop 199 on lthe adjacent part of the carrier .179. as shown in Figures 12 and 15. During the last part of the downward and backward motion of the yoke 9st which carries the gripper device, a shoulder' 290 on this yoke engages with an .adjusting screw 291 on the shifting arm 197 and causes the latter to be moved rearwardly in opposition to the spring 196, thereby causing the righting finger 194 to he moved forwardly into engagement with the lower part of the rear side of the sha-nk lof lll

of the spike blank which is in the delivery position on the runway and causes this shank to assume a vertical position so that the saine is capable of being` properly grasped by the two pairs of of the gripping device. jrs the gripping device is moved forwardly and carries the foremost spike blank with it, the shoulder 200 on the gripper yoke is moved away from the adjusting screw 201 and thereby permits the spring 196 to again turn the righting lever 193 so as to carry the righting` finger 194: rearwardly below the path of the nent following spike blank and enable the latter to slide forwardly to take the place of the foremost spike at the delivery position.

When turning the adjusting screw or rod 14-2 for the purpose of adjusting` the position of the ends of the stroke of the gripper mechanism to suit the length of the spike blank, which is being operated upon, it also becomes necessary to shift the place of delivery of the spike blank supplying means accordingly so that the spike blanks will be located properly for engagement by the gripper mechanism. The required adjustment for this purpose in practice is very slight inasmuch as the spike blanks are substantially uniform in len0th,but, nevertheless, the spikes must be delivered to the gripper mechanism accurately in order to insure proper co-operation of the gripper mechanism therewith. This adjustment of the spike blank supplying` means may be effected by4 adjustably mounting the carrier 179 of the escapement mechanism on the main frame so that the det-ent lever 174, its finger 17 5 and the parts associated therewith, can be moved forwardly or backwardly relatively to the outlet of the runway and thus permit the head of the foremost spike blank to project a greater or lesser extent beyond the rails of the runway to suit the length of the spike and still permit the jaws of the 'gripping device to properly engage therewith. For this purpose, the carrier 179 is constructed in the form of a longitudinal bar or plate which is frictionally secured to the under side of a horizontal guide surface 202 on the main frame and is frictionally held in engagement therewith by means of one or more tension bolts 203, each of which lis secured with its upper end to the main frame and passes through a longitudinal slot 204; on the carrier 179, and a spring 205 surrounding the bolt 203 and bearing at its upper end through the medium of a washer 206 against the under side of the carrying bar 179, while its lower end bears against a pair of screw nuts 207 on the lower end of the tension bolt 203, as best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 12. By pushing the carrying bar 17 9 forwardly or backwardly, the detent finger 17 5 and associated parts can be moved yforwardly or backwardly relatively to the outlet of the spike blank runway and thereby permit the foremost spike to extend or overhang` more or less beyond the rails of the runway and thereby compensate for the changed terminus of the throw of the gripper mechanism which was made necessary to suit the length of the spike blank which is being operated upon.

inasmuch as the adjustment of the escapement mechanism may be overlooked by the operator when changing from one length of spike to another, means are provided for the effect-ing of an adjust-ment of this compensating device automatically. These means, in their prescribed form, comprise two tappets which are adapted to be engaged by one of the arms of the shifting lever 126, a front tappet 208 which is secured to the rear part of the carrying bar 179 in position to be engaged by the respective arm of the shifting lever 126 during the last part of the forward stroke of the same, and a rear tappet 209 secured to the rear part of this carrying bar and adapted to be engaged by the same arm of the shifting lever 126 during the last part of the rearward stroke of this lever. rllhe ordinary stroke after the machine has been once set for a certain length of spike will cause the shifting lever to rock through an arc which will cause the same, at the end of the stroke to engage with the front tappet 208 and at the rear end of this stroke to engage with the rear tappet 209, but not actually shift or disturb the position of these tappets nor the carrying bar 179 and the escapement mechanism mounted thereon, whereby the latter is normally left in a definite position where it is held in place frictionally by means of the tension of t-he springs 205. When, however, the adjusting screw rod 142 is turned for the purpose of adjusting the terminals of the stroke of the lever 126, to a new position to suit the length of the spike and cause the front or lower end of the same to be operated upon properly by the forming mechanism, the first forward stroke of the shifting lever 126 upon engaging the front tappet 208, will move the carrier 179 and the escapement mechanism forwardly slightly to an extent corresponding to the change which has been effected in the forward throw of this lever and the gripper mechanism, and thereafter this lever will again oscillate idly between the front tappet 20S and the rear tappet 209 without further changing the position of the escap-ement mechanism relative to the gripper mechanism.

After however, the adjusting screw rod 141-2 has been turned so as to throw the rearward terminus of the stroke of the shifting lever 126 back farther for producing a corresponding increase in the backward movement of the gripper mechanism to suit the length of the spike, then the shifting lever 126,. at the end of its first rearward throw, will engage the rear tappet 209 land move the carrier 17 9 together with the escapement mechanism rearwardly to the saine extenti corresponding to the changed location of the rearward terminus of the stroke of the gripper mechanism, and thereafter the shifting lever 126 will again oscillate idly between the front tappet 208 and the rear tappet 209 without further changing the relation of these parts until a further adjustment of the same is made necessary to suit the length of the spike blank which is being operated upon. 1t will, therefore, be apparent that the shifting of the escapement mechanism so as to permit of varying the extent of overhang of the foremost spike blank on the runway and thus compensate for any variation in the length of the spike blank and harmonize the position of the spike blank at the delivery place for properly receiving mccl'ianism, is effected automatically, without requiring any attention on the part. of the operator for this purpose,

lVhenever, therefore, the attendant notices that the finished spikes as they are discharged from the machine do not come out with their points in the proper shape, he simply turns the adjusting screw rod 142 one wajr or the other for changing the stopping places at opposite ends of the throw of the gripper and the spike blank carried thereby for bringingl the blank into the desired position relatively to the dies, and the escapcment mechanism is automatically adjusted to conform to the changed throw of the gripper, this being accomplished while themachine is in operation and the operator is observing the product coming from the machine. This compensating mechanism is intended to take care of spike blanks when one batch differs slightly in length from another, but when only an occasional spike blank is slightly of excess length, the automatically actuated positioning rod or plunger' 81 is relied on to take care of the same.

The operation of this machine, briefiy, is as follows:

Assuming that the parts have been adjusted for operating on spike blanks of a certain length and that a. supply of spike blanks has been placed on the runway chute, or magazine, the first effect upon starting the machine is the closing of the gripper jaws on the head and shank of the foremost spike blank at the outlet of the spike blank supplying means. After the gripper jaws have taken hold of the spike blank, the latter is swung upwardly and forwardly from a vertical to a= horizontal position with the lower end of the shank facing forwardly. The gripper now moves forwardly and carries the spike blank into its foremost position in which the dies are nearest the head shank and the blank at the same time is moved rearwardly step by step so that grooves, either plain or corrugated, are formed lengthwise in the spike shank until the dies have nearly reached the front or lower end of the spike blank. Upon reaching the las-tmentioned part of the spike blank, the dies will be actuated so as to form a point on the lower or front end thereof, whereupon the operatioi'r of the dies will cease and the same will remain at rest until another spike blank hasbeen presented to the dies when the latter will resume their .forging operation. After the finished spike has been withdrawn from the dies by the gripping mechanism, the jaws of the latter swing downwardly and rearwardly and during the first part of this movei'i'ient, the jaws of the gripping mechanism open to release the finished spike and remain open until thek jaws are in line with the next following spike blank' when the latter is grasped andthe cycle of ope-ration just `describcal is continuously repeat-ed so long as the machine is running..

shank and in the opposite direction whileI out of engagement with said shank.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a die adapted to work onthe side of the shank of a spike, and means for moving said die toward said shank and also rocking. the same while in engagementtherewith, comprising an eccentric strap on one part of which said die is mounted and which is provided with a rock' arm, a cam engaging said rock arm, an eccentric uponf which said strap is mounted and which is provided with a rock arm, and a cam engaging the last mentioned rock arm.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a die adapted to work on the side of the shank of a spike, and means for moving said die toward said shank andV also rocking the same while in engagement therewith comprising an eccentric strap on one part ofwhich said die is mounted and which is provided with a rock arm, a cam engaging said rockarm, an eccentric upon which said strap is mounted and which is providedv with a rock arm, a cam engaging the last mentioned rook arm, and s ring means for holding said rock arms yiel ingly in engagement with said cams.

4f, A machine of the character described, comprising a die adapted to Work on the side of the shank of a spike, and means for moving said die towardy said shank andl also rocking the same While in engagement therewith comprising an eccentric strap on one partof which said die is mounted and which is provided with a rock arm, a cam engaging said rock arm, an eccentric upon which said strap is mounted and Which is provided with a rock arm, a cam engaging the the last mentioned rock arm, and spring means for holding said rock arms yieldingly in engagement with said cams, comprising` a tension rod connected With each of said rock arms, and a spring bearing at one end against a shoulder on said tension rod and at its other end against a` relatively stationary abutment.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a die adapted to Work the side of the shank of a spike, an eccentric strap carrying said die and provided with a rock arm, an eccentric upon which said strap is mounted and Which is provided with a rock arm, cams engaging with said rock arms, and a yielding support for said eccentric.

6. A machine ot the character described, comprising a die adapted to work the side of the shank of a spike, an eccentric strap carrying said die and provided with a. rock arm, an eccentric upon which said strap is mounted and which is provided With a rock arm, cams engaging with said rock arms, and a yielding support for said eccentric, comprising an arbor, upon which said eccentric turns, brackets upon which opposite ends of said arbor rest, tension bolts passing through said arbor and connected at one end With said brackets, and springs engaging with the ends of said arbor and with the heads at the other ends of said bolts.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a die having a front convex grooving face and a front flat pointing face, and means for actuating said die ior engaging the grooving face thereof with the intermediate part or the side of a shank oi the spike and the pointing tace thereo't with the end of the same.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising a die having a. tront convex grooving face and a. rear flat pointing face, and means for actuating said die for engaging the grooving face thereoiA with the intermediate part oi' the side ot a shank otl the spike and the pointing face thereof with the end of the same, comprising an eccentric strap carrying said die and provided With a rock arm, an eccentric. upon which said strap turns and Which is provided with a rock arm, and rotary cams each engaging With one of said arms and each provided with a plurality of relatively short throw vparts and a long` throw part, said short throw parts of said cams being adapted to move the die toward the intermediate part of said shank and simultaneously rock the same moderately, and the long throwing parts being adapted to move the die toivard the end ot' said shank and simultaneously rock the same a greater extent.

9. A machine ol" the character described, comprising a die adapted to move toward and from the side oi the shank oi' a spike and provided with longitudinal corrugations or producing corresponding formation on the intermediate part oit said shank, and a lat inclined face for producing a corresponding formation on the end ot the shank.

l0. A machine of the character described, comprising a die movable toward and from the side ci' the shank ot a spike and also to rock relatively thereto, an eccentric strap carrying said die and provided with a rock arm, an eccentric upon which raid strap turns and which is provided With a rock arm, rotary cams for actuating said rock arms, a driving shaft, and means for transmitting' motion from said driving shaft to said cams including a pair 01"' co-operating intermittent gear Wheels,

ll. A machine of the character described, comprising a plurality ot dies arranged in an annular row around thc place adapted to be occupied by a spike to be grooved, and means for moving said dies in unison toward and from said spike and also rocking the same relatively thereto, comprising rotary cams for each die, a plurality of driven shafts mounted in rectangular relation to each other and each carrying the cams for one of said dies, intermeshing gear Wheels arranged on the adjacent ends of the several driven shafts, and a -driving shaft operatively connected vvith said driven shafts.

12. A machine of the character described, comprising a forming device adapted to operate on the sides of the shank ot' a spike blank, means for moving said blank relatively to said forming device, and a gage device adapted to operate on the iront end of the spike blank and position the spike blank relatively to said forming device, said gage device comprising a longitudinal movable gage pin adapted to engage the front end or' the spike blank, and means for moving said gage pin toward the front end of the spike blank during the last part of the operation oi said forming device on said spike blank.

13. A machine of the character described, comprising a forming device adapted to operate on the sides of the shank ot a spike blank, means for moving said blank relatively to said forming device, and a gage device adapted to operate on the front end o't` the spike blank and position the spike blank relatively to said forming device, said device conmrising a longitudinal movable gage pin adapted to engage the front end of the spike blank, and' means 'for moving said gage pin tovvard the front end o't the spike blank during the last part ot the operation of said forming device on said lZU 

